Crews work to repair utility poles and wires felled by trees on Hillcrest Street in Great Kills.Staten Island Advance/Jillian Jorgensen

More than 25,000 Island homes were still without power Saturday night -- not just in the devastated beach communities -- and the temperatures were expected to drop into the 30s.

"It's cold, very cold, especially at night," said a woman who would only identify herself as Liz B., from Great Kills. "It's hard to deal with."

She's been without power since Sandy struck on Monday -- and Saturday she was waiting to fill a fuel can with gasoline in Eltingville.

"I'm getting more worried now, they're saying a storm is coming," she explained.

AccuWeather forecast that temperatures would drop into the mid to upper 30s Saturday night, and urged those without power to brace for a cold night. But even more concerning to Liz B. and others without power -- and those living on the coast -- were forecasts of yet another storm slated to hit the region Tuesday night, which could bring more cold weather and more coastal flooding.

"My plan right now is to get this gas to my truck," Liz explained.

That way, she could leave the area and get to somewhere with power. Many others she knew on the borough were still in the dark -- and the cold, she said.

"I can at least go somewhere where they have some heat," she said. "It's too cold at night."

People wait for gas at a Citgo station in Eltingville. Some have no power at home and need to refill generators.Staten Island Advance/Jill Jorgensen

She said she was thankful for the jackets and the blankets people had donated -- and she wasn't sure how she could get by without them.

As of about p.m. Saturday, Con Edison had yet to restore power to 27,842 Island "customers" -- meaning households or apartment buildings. On the utility's outage map, it estimated restoration for Nov. 11 -- no comfort for those who are shivering.

Attempts to reach a Con Edison spokesman Saturday were unsuccessful.

Far from the beach in their community, residents on tree-lined Hillcrest Street in Great Kills were also without power, thanks to the pretty trees taking down power lines when Sandy's wind felled their branches.

"It's getting a little nippy at night," admitted Cindy Stolzenthaler.

She kept warm at night with 3 pairs of socks and an extra sweatshirt, she said. Compared to those who lost homes, she said her neighborhood was doing fine.

"You have to put your priorities in order," she said. "We're lucky."

Peter Calandrella said he's been running a generator to use a few lights at his home, and using the fireplace to keep it warm. He sent his four children to stay with family who had gotten their heat back.

"I'm just trying to keep the house running. I'm trying to keep the house warm tonight," he said, reluctant to leave his house empty and dark in order to find a warmer place to stay himself.

He's already gone through nearly a cord of firewood, he said. And being in the dark for so long is tough with youngsters, he said -- his 12-year-old celebrated a birthday Friday night.

"When you have four kids it's difficult," he said. "You go completely stir-crazy. You can only play so many board games."

To deal with the dropping temperatures, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Saturday the city would provide buses from hard-hit areas -- including Pleasant Plains and New Dorp in Staten Island -- to shelters where people could stay warm overnight.

The city also handed out blankets and its food and water distribution centers.

"It's critical that people stay warm, especially the elderly," Bloomberg said. "If you are elderly, or have an infant under a year old, or have heart disease or medical conditions, you should get to a warm place. Or if you find yourself shivering uncontrollably, or if you see someone who is disoriented - these are symptoms of hypothermia. And anyone with them needs to get to a warm place."

In addition to shelters, the city is opening daytime warming centers. On Staten Island, people can drop in at the Senior Guild Luncheon Program, 120 Anderson Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Hypothermia is a real risk for people who remain in their homes without power and heat, Bloomberg said. The risk increases with the amount of time spent in the cold.

While most can tolerate cold indoor temperatures if they have proper clothing and blankets, some are at great risk -- including older adults, infants, people with circulatory diseases, diabetes and metabolic disorders, those on certain medications including over-the-counter cold drugs, and people who drink alcohol.

Anyone who remains at home without heat should cover all bare skin, wear loose layers for warms, wear gloves and a hat inside, and drink warm liquids but avoid excessive caffeine.

Do not use a gas stove or range, or a portable gas heater, to warm up inside -- they emit deadly carbon monoxide gas.

Signs of hypothermia include confusion or sleepiness, slow or slurred speech, uncontrollable shivering or stiffness in the arms or legs, and poor control over body movements and slow reaction times.